July 2018

Three dozen teams came together on a beautiful Friday morning at the Wellsville Country Club recently to enjoy a round of golf and support Alfred State College.

Presented by Mach Architecture, PC, the fourth annual Pioneers Drive for the Development Fund took place June 15 at the country club, featuring 36 teams who helped raise around $32,000 through sponsorships, gifts and prizes for the Alfred State Development Fund, Inc. The proceeds will help fund student scholarships, athletics, and other needs of the college.

Earning the coveted blue jacket as the winners of the golf tournament were Troy Morehouse, Steve Wintersteen, Matt Horvath, and Jeremy Light. The second-place team included Joe Karpinski, Matt Kurtz, Mike Kurtz, and Bill Hau, while the team of RC Weston, Ray Weston, Mike Burdsall, and Chris Verstraete placed third.

The top three teams took home $500, $300, and $200 respectively. In addition, the tournament featured a number of skill prizes, as well as other contest prizes such as gift certificates, cash, a 50/50 drawing, lottery board, silent auction items, and more than 80 door prizes.

Some fun, new on-course activities were added this year, such as corn hole, out-drive the athletic director, and a blackjack game. A dinner was held immediately following the tournament at the Wellsville Country Club.

Trish Haggerty, director of Annual Giving at Alfred State, said, “We could not have asked for a more perfect day to play golf and catch up with our alumni and Alfred State friends. The Wellsville Country Club and its pro shop did a wonderful job hosting the event this year, and I think everyone really enjoyed themselves. When we can spend time with friends and supporters of Alfred State College and raise over $30,000 to help support our students’ greatest needs, it’s a win for everyone!”

The DC Arboretum Eagle Nest Cam, made possible thanks to some Alfred State College students, is back in the spotlight again, as it was recently highlighted in an article by Mashable.com.

Titled, “From puffins to brown bears: The 10 best wildlife livestreams of the summer,” the article recognizes a variety of webcams that focus on animals in their natural environments such as gray wolves, alligators, elephants, and more. Mashable, according to its website, is a global, multi-platform media and entertainment company.

The article states, “Whether it’s a pair of hawks nesting over a bustling city, or a young lioness lounging in the sun, when technology and animals peacefully combine, the results can be phenomenal. That idea is no better exemplified than in the following wildlife livestreams, giving us a glimpse into the secret lives of animals around the world.”

Among these animals are the eagles “Mr. President” and “The First Lady,” and their two eaglets, Victory and Valor, all of whom can be found at the National Arboretum in Washington, DC. Mr. President and The First Lady have become the proud parents of seven eaglets since making the Arboretum their home several years ago.

In October 2015, a group of Alfred State College electrical construction and maintenance electrician students designed and installed a unique solar-powered trailer at the Arboretum to supply the energy necessary for the public to view the nesting and hatching of the bald eagle family online through a webcam.

Media organizations around the world publicized the webcam at www.DCeaglecam.org, and explained the ASC students’ role in the project. Those students included Ethan Yanda, of Wayland; Thomas Wzientek, of West Seneca; Justin King, of Uniondale; Oliver Jackson, of Williamsville; and Mike Lee of Brooklyn.

As stated in the Mashable article, “The American Eagle Foundation and the National Arboretum established the livestream to give viewers access to the national bird and to also monitor and preserve the species.”

Jeffrey Stevens, interim dean of Alfred State’s School of Applied Technology, said, “We are excited about all the attention the bald eagle cam has received since it was first installed, and are delighted that it has been featured in this great article by Mashable. Alfred State is proud to have played a role in making the webcam a reality so that viewers all over the world may enjoy and appreciate this beautiful family of birds.”

United by their Alfred State College roots and a desire to make a difference, a group of ASC alumni came together recently to upgrade the infrastructure at Lions Camp Badger.

Located in Spencer, Lions Camp Badger focuses on providing services that “enhance the educational, vocational, personal growth, and independence of differently-abled youth and adults,” according to the camp’s website.

The Pioneer alumni who participated in the service trip included John Mallen, of Malverne; Robert Nugent, of Candor; Ryan Johnson, of Penn Yan; Derrick Erway, of Binghamton; and Max Laquidara, of South Salem, all of whom are graduates of the heavy equipment operations program, and Frank Tortora, a construction management graduate from Rochester. Accompanying them on the trip were Mark Payne, assistant professor of Building Trades, and Brian Decker, instructor of Culinary Arts.

For an entire weekend, the group worked hard to make upgrades around the camp, which included improving drainage, extending a parking lot, the repair and re-installation of a culvert pipe, and trail improvements. Along with the work, the group had a great time reconnecting, according to Payne.

"Time was spent recounting and reminiscing about the Alfred State experience,” he said. “Connections were shared, opportunities were presented, and overall a great time was had by all. It was an especially proud moment when I could go around the table and introduce our graduates, and share a little about their careers and achievements with the camp staff and operators."

Due to the success of this trip, Alfred State College is hoping to make this an annual event for alumni. If you are interested in attending next year, please contact studentactivities@alfredstate.edu.

Derrick Erway, of Binghamton, a 2016 graduate of the heavy equipment operations program

Note: This is the first installment in a two-part series of articles on Alfred State College’s involvement in the 2018 Great Race. The second article will focus on alumnus Jeff Mahl and his historic journey westward.

No matter how their team finishes or what speed bumps they may face along the way, Alfred State College students always end up having an excellent time on The Great Race, and this year was no exception.

Once again driving the 1953 Dodge Power Wagon tow truck, the team set off from Buffalo on June 23 as one of 118 teams making their way Northeast toward Halifax, Nova Scotia, where they were due to arrive July 1. The Great Race is an antique, vintage, and collector car competitive controlled-speed endurance rally that tests teams’ abilities to follow precise course instructions and their vehicle’s ability to endure on a 2,000-plus-mile trip.

According to ASC Automotive Trades Professor Mike Ronan, who served as the adviser on the trip, things were going pretty well for the team up until the evening of June 27, when they suffered an engine failure on Interstate 95.

“After a great rally day, Liam and Don were headed back to Bangor on an Interstate 95 transit to the finish. Out of the blue,” Ronan continued, “the No. 1 connecting rod tried to escape through the block.”

After several unsuccessful attempts to secure a replacement engine, the team was forced to “throw in the towel,” before the sixth stage, Ronan said. Despite their difficulties, however, the students still had an amazing time on the race.

“The students had the experience of a lifetime, notwithstanding the outcome,” Ronan said “The adventure began with a wonderful alumni event at Chef’s in Buffalo on Friday night, where they had the chance to meet a number of true friends of the college. The race start in Buffalo brought a large group of supporters to see the team off.”

Each evening, Ronan said, large crowds gathered to welcome the Great Racers and view the cars.

“The students spent time helping young children into the Power Wagon, so parents could take advantage of photo opportunities,” he said. “Each night after the evening show, the students worked on competitors’ vehicles to keep them going in the race.”

Ronan said he has found that each year Alfred State has participated in The Great Race has been of benefit to not only the student team members, but to the Automotive Trades Department and the college as a whole.

“The event gives us exposure on a national scale and has resulted in thousands of dollars in student scholarships,” he said. “Participation in the event is truly an exercise in character-building, and the students have always been great ambassadors for Alfred State.”

The 2018 Alfred State Great Race team took a moment to pose alongside an American icon during their stop in Troy. From left to right are team adviser Mike Ronan, “Uncle Sam,” team members Donald Piatek III, Jordan Dunning, Jacob Derk, and Liam DeChick, and friend of the college Bill Arlow.

Alfred State College students once again held their own as they went head-to-head against competitors from around the country in the annual National SkillsUSA Championship in Louisville, KY, coming away with two medals and four top-10 finishes.

The 54th annual intercollegiate national competition took place in Louisville, KY, from June 25-29. Alfred State’s Anthony Black, autobody repair, Bergen, was awarded a bronze medal for third place in the nation in Automotive Refinishing. Mitchell Davis, building trades: building construction, Bath, was awarded a silver medal for second place in the nation in Carpentry.

Other Alfred State students placing in the top 10 included Michael Felts, heavy equipment, truck and diesel technician, Ballston Lake (fifth place, Diesel Equipment Technology) and Christopher Stevenson, masonry, Binghamton (fifth place, Masonry). Rounding out the 2018 Alfred State SkillsUSA Nationals team were Caryl Koch, motorsports technology, Cuba, who competed in the Automotive Service Technology category; Matthew Scheffler, electrical construction and maintenance electrician, Lake View, who took part in the Electrical Construction Wiring competition; and Isaac Cline, welding technology, Homer, who competed in the Welding category.

This year, more than 6,300 students from around the country competed in 102 different trade, technical, and leadership fields.

Students work against the clock and each other, proving their expertise in occupations such as electronics, computer-aided drafting, precision machining, medical assisting, and culinary arts. Contests are run with the help of industry, trade associations, and labor organizations, and test competencies are set by industry. Leadership contestants demonstrate skills including extemporaneous speaking and conducting meetings by parliamentary procedure.

The students compete to national standards with other students from all 50 states. The competitions are set up and judged by industry representatives. Over $20 million dollars is donated in time and equipment to the weeklong event.

SkillsUSA is a vital solution to the growing US skills gap. This non-profit partnership of students, instructors, and industry insures America has the skill workforce it needs to stay competitive. Founded in 1965 and endorsed by the US Department of Education, the association serves more than 360,000-member students and instructors each year in middle schools, high schools, and colleges. This diverse talent pipeline covers 130 trade, technical, and skilled service occupations, the majority of which are STEM-related. More than 600 corporations, trade associations, businesses, and labor unions actively support SkillsUSA at the national level.

SkillsUSA programs are integrated into career and technical education through a framework of personal, workplace, and technical skills grounded in academics. Local, state, and national championships designed and judged by industry set relevant standards for career and technical education and provide needed recognition to its students. SkillsUSA also offers technical skill assessments and other workplace credentials. For more information, visit www.SkillsUSA.org.

Alfred State College faculty and staff who accompanied the students to Louisville included Dr. Craig Clark, vice president for Economic Development; Bradley Smith, assistant professor, Automotive Trades Department; and C.J. Tremper, instructor, Automotive Trades Department.

Those interested in forming chapters at other NYS colleges should contact Clark, the NYS College and Postsecondary SkillsUSA director, at 607- 587-3102. Program information regarding technical areas of education should be directed to 1-800-4-ALFRED.

Dr. Richard Kellogg, professor emeritus of psychology at Alfred State College, is the author of an article appearing in the most recent issue of Paperback Parade, a quarterly journal for readers and book collectors. The article, titled “Leo Roi: Millionaire Sleuth,” focuses on a popular series of novels written by Phillips Lore (1942-1988).

The author notes that Phillips Lore is actually a pseudonym employed by mystery writer Terrence Lore Smith. His most famous mystery, “The Thief Who Came To Dinner” (1971), was made into a movie starring Ryan O'Neal and Jacqueline Bisset in 1973.

As for the fictional Leo Roi, he is an unusual detective in that he inherited assets of $100 million and lives a life of luxury in a large condominium on the shores of Lake Michigan. Leo is an attorney who specializes in criminal law. With the help of his beautiful wife, Christina, Leo delights in solving complex crimes that baffle the Chicago Police Department. The three exciting mysteries featuring the millionaire sleuth will be read and enjoyed for many years to come.

Kellogg writes frequently about the literary genres of mystery and science fiction. He is the creator of a series of children's books about boy detective Barry Baskerville. The most recent entry in the series, available on the Amazon website, is titled “Barry Baskerville's Marvelous Memory.”

The Alfred State Pioneers have a new animal mascot. After more than a year of branding research and polling at Alfred State College (ASC), the winning animal is an ox. The image of the ox and a dynamic new “Alfred State Pioneers” school spirit wordmark are just some of the changes coming to a fast-growing athletics program.

“We are eager to launch our new brand this fall, which will set the direction for the next generation of Alfred State Pioneers,” said Alfred State Director of Athletics Jason Doviak. “After a lengthy and inclusive process, the campus community felt that an ox would be the ideal mascot to represent our institutional nickname. Throughout the design phase, the new logo has generated a lot of interest and enthusiasm. Our student-athletes and Athletic Department will now have a true brand for the first time in our history. The new look will help accelerate the momentum we have in gaining official NCAA Division III status, securing a multisport conference home in the AMCC, and moving us forward as a national program.”

Instead of hiring a consultant, Chief Marketing Officer Russ Nunley led a 23-member branding committee to gather input from faculty, students, staff, and alumni. The committee supervised research, animal selection, and design of the new mascot.

Previously, the college has relied on depictions of human characters such as Pioneer Pete or Orvis the Pioneer. The committee determined that an animal mascot is more inclusive and inviting. The goal is to provide athletes, students, alumni, and fans with a loveable animal mascot.

The mascot’s design includes a furrowed brow, a snarl, and one hoof raised showing that the Pioneers are ready for competition. This new logo will enhance an already strong connection that ASC has with the Pioneers nickname.

“Pioneers both from history and today are known for forging ahead, leading others, and mastering skills to succeed,” said Alfred State President Dr. Skip Sullivan. “The Pioneers nickname is perfect for our college. When we asked our students, they overwhelmingly recognized the importance of an ox for helping the pioneers. We will once again rely on input from our students this fall as we vote on a name for this friend of the pioneers.”

The new mascot is a reminder of how much of a team player the ox is for getting work done. “As strong as an ox” is an expression that has endured for centuries because of the solid and hard-working attitude of the animal. The mascot choice is also appropriate for a college that started as an agricultural school in 1908 and has grown to offer more than 70 majors.

After narrowing the selection to either a bear, dog, or ox, Alfred State students overwhelmingly voted for an ox to become the winning animal mascot. Image by artist Alan Zerbe.

On the morning of June 20, Jeff Mahl and his traveling companions set off in their antique automobiles from Hyde Park in the southeastern corner of New York State, heading northwest for the city of Buffalo.

Traffic was light as they departed FDR’s former home at roughly 6 a.m., making their way along in the cool morning air up Route 9 toward the Kingston Bridge to Interstate 87/90.

While the travelers rode on, they were no doubt filled with excitement as they set out to honor and retrace the historical route taken by Mahl’s great-grandfather 110 years ago during a thrilling automobile race around the world.

Mahl, a 1967 graduate of Alfred State College’s marketing program, was behind the wheel of one of the four classic vehicles taking part in the trip to commemorate the historic 1908 New York to Paris Race, which was won by his great-grandfather, George Schuster.

While he had heard his great-grandfather’s stories about the race many times while growing up in Springville, Mahl was now getting the chance to live them, as he piloted a 1929 Model A Roadster Pickup. He was joined on his journey by John Quam, who drove a 1928 Plymouth Roadster; Jack and Mary Crabtree in a 1929 Model A Boat Tail Speedster; and Roger and Kathy Hershberger, who drove a 1941 Packard Model 160 that traveled part of the way.

After first stopping in Canastota, where they received a very warm welcome, the group arrived in Buffalo June 20. Over the next few days, the travelers would visit Niagara Falls; Rich Products, the former site of the Thomas Factory that built Schuster’s Flyer; the Buffalo Transportation Pierce-Arrow Museum; Schuster’s Springville home; and the new Heritage Building Museum.

On June 23, Mahl and his fellow travelers joined up with competitors of the annual controlled-speed endurance rally known as “The Great Race,” which Alfred State competes in every year.

As The Great Race teams sped north toward Halifax, Nova Scotia, from Buffalo, Mahl and his crew headed west at a more leisurely pace toward San Francisco. Along the way, the group stopped at a number of locations that Schuster and his fellow racers also visited 110 years ago, traveling through Ohio, Illinois, Nebraska, Wyoming, Nevada, and California.

Some notable stops included Cheyenne, WY, where Gov. Matt Mead greeted the travelers and presented them with a Wyoming state flag; Evanston, WY, where the group was escorted into town by the Unita County Sheriff’s Office Mounted Patrol; and Twin Springs Ranch in Nevada.

As it turns out, Twin Springs Ranch is owned by the Fallini family today, just as it was in 1908 when Schuster’s vehicle broke down there in a nearby stream, and he was assisted by a man named Giovanni Fallini. On his trip, Mahl met the Fallini family and toured the ranch, getting to see an old stone bunkhouse that still stands to this day as it did 110 years ago, as well as the spot where the Thomas Flyer forded the stream in 1908.

Undoubtedly, the stories Mahl heard from his great-grandfather while growing up were racing through his mind as he ventured through the same places.

“After hearing the stories all those years ago, it’s a rare opportunity to see the places and meet the people who have also heard the stories about when the American Thomas Flyer came through their towns across the US from their grandfathers,” Mahl said.

Finally, after covering 3,563.9 miles, the group arrived in San Francisco July 5, completing the American leg of their journey. Mahl and his fellow travelers plan on beginning the Asia-European legs of their trip sometime next year, traveling through Japan, Siberia, Manchuria, Moscow, St. Petersburg, Berlin, Belgium, and Paris, just as Schuster did in 1908.

Understandably, after completing their US trip, the travelers are excited to continue their journey. As Mahl noted in the final entry of his daily blog about their adventure, “The spectacular views as we crossed America and the truly exceptional people we met along the way made it well worth the effort.

“It’s even harder to believe six international teams started out 110 years ago in the middle of winter, to circumnavigate the globe in automobiles that were considered a passing fad and nothing more than toys for the rich. To think of life today without an automobile would seem impossible.”

In the same entry, Mahl later added, “I believe we all came away from the experience with a genuine appreciation for the great country we live in, and for the tremendous efforts and sacrifice of all those who came before us.”

Alfred State alumnus Jeff Mahl and his fellow travelers are escorted by the Unita County Sheriff’s Office Mounted Patrol as they enter Evanston, WY during their recent trip to commemorate the 110th Anniversary of the 1908 NY to Paris Race.Long before Jeff Mahl and his crew were escorted into Evanston, WY, Mahl’s great-grandfather received a similar welcome to the city during the 1908 NY to Paris Race.

Betsy Penrose will join Alfred State College (ASC) as associate vice president for Enrollment Management effective Aug. 21. She comes to ASC after more than two decades of accomplishments at Jefferson Community College, a State University of New York (SUNY) school in Watertown

“Betsy’s distinguished career of more than 25 years at JCC has prepared her well for leading our enrollment management and related departments,” said Executive Vice President Valerie Nixon. “She is a seasoned pro in multiple areas of administration, including financial aid, enrollment management, and most recently serving as vice president for students at JCC.”

While at Jefferson Community College, Penrose received the SUNY Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in Professional Service, SUNY Financial Aid Professionals, Inc. (SUNYFAP) William A. Troy Service Award, New York State Financial Aid Administrators Regional Service Award, and SUNYFAP Presidential Citation for Outstanding Service as advocacy chair.

“After the retirement of Associate Vice President Deborah Goodrich, we recognized how important it is not to lose any of our momentum and to continue Deb’s legacy of success,” said Alfred State President Dr. Skip Sullivan. “I’m confident that Betsy shares our values to connect sincerely with prospective students and parents, to serve their needs, and to promote the college.”

“I am honored to work with the enrollment team and campus community at Alfred State to share my passion about opening doors of opportunity for students and helping them achieve their dreams,” said incoming Associate Vice President for Enrollment Management Betsy Penrose. “With its hands-on approach to learning, generous financial aid, beneficial scholarship programs, and close-knit community, Alfred State embodies a thriving student-centered higher education learning institution. The college’s 99 percent employment and continuing education rate illustrates the tremendous success of the students and the organization.”

Betsy Penrose is the new associate vice president for Enrollment Management at Alfred State College effective Aug. 21

US Rep. Tom Reed, R-Corning, recently held his fourth annual Manufacturing Summit at the Alfred State Lake Lodge. The event, which drew more than 100 local manufacturers, allowed businesses to connect with and learn from experts and colleagues within the manufacturing industry.